Sailing and Boat Tours in Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal
54 experiences
Last updated:
Lisbon suits a visit built around Baixa, Alfama and Belém, with fado or time on the Tagus alongside the sights.
Baixa and Alfama make a useful introduction on foot, while Belém adds a separate focus on monuments. The Baixa guide can help shape a walk through Baixa, largely rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake. In Alfama, narrow lanes and small squares lead the visit towards São Jorge Castle above the neighbourhood. Its walls and towers have walkways reached by stairs, with views across Lisbon.
Belém suits time devoted to Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, both recognised by UNESCO in 1983. For a cycling visit, the e-bike tour from Lisbon to Belém includes a Pastel de Belém tasting.
Two to three days give you a workable plan: a day for Baixa, Alfama and the castle, another for Belém, and a third for Sintra or Cascais. That keeps the castle walkways and Alfama lanes together, with the monastery and tower on a separate day. With less time, a one-day Lisbon plan can focus on Baixa and Alfama rather than adding a day trip.
A guided alternative is the full-day Lisbon tour covering Alfama, Belém and Cristo Rei.
April, May, September and October suit walking if you prefer lower daytime temperatures than in July and August. April and October can bring some rainy days (about 8 days with at least 1 mm of rain), so leave some flexibility in the plan. Average daily highs are 20.4 °C in April, 23.1 °C in May, 26.6 °C in September and 22.8 °C in October. July and August bring higher average highs of 28.2 °C and 28.8 °C, so they suit travellers comfortable with warmer walks.
Winter suits a cooler visit with room in the plan for rain: January averages highs of 15.1 °C and lows of 8.6 °C. January and December each average 10 days with at least 1 mm of rain, compared with 0.6 in July. For street celebrations, 12 and 13 June bring Saint Anthony festivities and a parade along Avenida da Liberdade.
The metro works for arrival from the airport, tram 28 for a ride through city neighbourhoods, and trains for day trips. From the airport the metro takes about 20 minutes to Saldanha on the red line, and about 25 to 30 minutes to Rossio or Baixa-Chiado with a change to the green line at Alameda. Tram 28 starts at Praça Martim Moniz and passes through Graça, which makes it a good way to see those neighbourhoods. For Cascais, the line from Cais do Sodré takes about 40 minutes.
A sunset boat trip fits a visit centred on the Tagus. The Lisbon sunset boat tour on the Tagus includes a drink. The river is crossed by the 25 de Abril Bridge, which carries trains as well as road traffic.
A fado dinner gives you live music alongside a meal. Fado brings poetry and music together in Lisbon communities, and Alfama has bars and restaurants devoted to it. The guided Lisbon fado dinner features live Portuguese music.
Sintra suits an interest in palace history; Cascais offers a rail outing from Cais do Sodré. Pena Palace developed from a former monastery, with a new palace added for King Ferdinand II in the mid-19th century. Sintra trains leave from Rossio.
Bairro Alto suits a stay focused on nightlife, while Rossio suits plans that include the train to Sintra. Bairro Alto has bars and restaurants, with alternative shops to explore during the day.
Two to three days allow for Baixa, Alfama and the castle, Belém, and a day trip.
April, May, September and October suit walking with lower average highs than July and August. April and October can bring some rainy days (about 8 days with at least 1 mm of rain), so leave some flexibility in the plan.
The metro serves airport arrivals, tram 28 starts at Praça Martim Moniz and passes through Graça, making it a good way to see those neighbourhoods, and trains serve Sintra and Cascais.
Sintra suits palace history, while Cascais is about 40 minutes by train from Cais do Sodré.
Bairro Alto suits nightlife; Rossio suits a stay with a Sintra rail trip.
